scnole2021's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
cassidy_swanson's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my heart. This book was just gorgeous. One of the loveliest books I’ve read in a long time. The way everything comes together—the way details are peeled back like layers of an onion chapter by chapter—melted my heart and planted hope there. I fell in love with the characters and their messy stories just as much as I fell in love with the town.
keeganprentice's review against another edition
5.0
I adored the characters, was often surprised by the plot points and was warmed by the messages in this unique story.
melissanolan7's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sri_savita's review against another edition
4.0
Don't hold on to old love so hard you forget to live. Old love isn't the only love you'll ever have. And I can tell you from this side that it never really goes away, anyway.
I remember reading Lost Lake on the flight back from a conference while in grad school and crying at the end, in the dark, alone, on the airplane. Sarah's writing always sneaks up like that on you, and it did with this book again too. I know the author wrote this book for her sister and mother who passed away. My sister also died from cancer in February of 2020. She was 23. We both loved Sarah Addison Allen's books ever since I picked one up during a magical summer library book sale, and after reading Garden Spells everything changed for me. It was one of the books that made me want to write my own books. I made my sister read it, and my mom, and we all loved SAA's stories. I've read most of them several times, they're comfort reads. So to read another SAA book, now, when my sister is gone, and find similar themes about love, loss, and spirits within these pages, it feels like something is slowly changing me again.
I remember reading Lost Lake on the flight back from a conference while in grad school and crying at the end, in the dark, alone, on the airplane. Sarah's writing always sneaks up like that on you, and it did with this book again too. I know the author wrote this book for her sister and mother who passed away. My sister also died from cancer in February of 2020. She was 23. We both loved Sarah Addison Allen's books ever since I picked one up during a magical summer library book sale, and after reading Garden Spells everything changed for me. It was one of the books that made me want to write my own books. I made my sister read it, and my mom, and we all loved SAA's stories. I've read most of them several times, they're comfort reads. So to read another SAA book, now, when my sister is gone, and find similar themes about love, loss, and spirits within these pages, it feels like something is slowly changing me again.
beagletracy's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lucasgarner's review against another edition
2.0
I’m gonna have to be in the “did I read the same book as everyone else?” crowd on this one. I was intrigued for the magical realism, and then quickly realized that the magical realism elements are incredibly shallow and serve no real purpose to the overall plot. What we are left with are several meandering underdeveloped characters that we spend too much time trying to get to know their entire life history rather than exploring their current wants/desires/needs what have you. Most of the characters were interesting enough to be a casual side character, but I found no one’s story compelling enough to want to know how it turned out in the end. When I’m 95% in and still wondering why we are bothering with anything that has happened, I know I should be concerned. Very lackluster, and I don’t recommend.
meera01's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed this but I wished it had more depth. The characters were mostly likable and I liked the magical realism.
heidipolkissa82's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0